Driving around all day at work

 Sparrowhawk, Henllan. Tawny Owl, Rhydowen. 200 Golden Plovers, Talgarreg. Large numbers of Starlings heading towards the Talgarreg roost.

Sightings from Chris Bird

On his Sunday visit to his local lakes Chris found six Wigeon on Llyn Fanod and 15 Goosanders an Llyn Eiddwen. Also on Sunday, a high count of 115 Mediterranean Gulls on the slurry fields at Llangwyryfon.

Over the same fields Chris's neighbour John Gettings had a flock of at least 30 Snipe. 

Chiffchaff and Water Rail

 I went for a late Sunday afternoon walk along Cors Caron from the north end to the Fflur Hide and birds of note; a chiffchaff, 3 reed bunting, 2 snipe, a kestrel and 3 water rail from the hide (2 were together of which I got excellent views of after hearing them). 

André Marsh

 

Wherefore art thou, egrets?

 A Black Redstart in Aberystwyth harbour this morning, on the rocks below the flats, before heading over the yachts towards the town. In a scene almost worthy of Shakespeare, John appeared on his balcony to hear my tidings.

Having missed the Capel Bangor egrets yesterday (but a House Martin there), I thought it worth checking the cow field at Tan-y-Bwlch. The only white things I could see were a White Wagtail and the rump of a Wheatear.

On the way back along the sea front, a Merlin south off castle point.

Glandyfi

Spent an hour at the lay-bye this morning - highlight for me was a firecrest at close range in the scrub below, and possibly another heard calling nearby. Other birds:  4 swallows, 2 green sandpipers, and a single great white egret. 

The Tregaron Eagle

Pic from 2013.

Apparently our eagle, found dead on August 6th near Abergwesyn, was suffering from Aspergillosis, a fungal infection which is common in nature but deadly in wild birds whose immune systems have been compromised by hunger or other natural events.

It was an awe inspiring sight in our skies and one can only hope that another makes a bid for freedom soon!

Egrets

 Great White Egret still at Dol Gwartheg farm this morning thanks to a tip off from Ian Harrison last night. Year tick. 

Andy James

I had a good look around for the Cattle Egrets yesterday, but couldn't find them.

Jerry Moore

Pencefn Whooper Swans

 The 11 Whooper Swans were still on Pencefn pool above Penrhyncoch on Friday afternoon. 

Great Egret at Aberaeron

 A Great Egret being mobbed by a Buzzard in a field on the outskirts of Aberaeron this afternoon at 17.00. Visible from the railway track/cycle path.The Buzzard wasn't at all interested in the two Grey Herons feeding some 25 yards away - it was presumably spooked by this unusual large white bird.

Ian Harrison

The Llanrhystud Snow Bunting

Sheila Gettings has supplied these photos of the Snow Bunting 

On the same topic, Arfon managed to fit in a visit to Llanrhystud before lockdown and not only saw the Snow Bunting and the Russian White-fronted Goose, but also found around 500 Med Gulls roosting on the sea by the caravan park.

More Mediterranean Gulls

 Chris revisited the slurry-covered fields at Llangwyryfon today and found a remarkable total of 146 Mediterranean Gulls, then added another 12 in a field at the head of Cwm Mabws.

He also called at the beach car park at Llanrhystud and saw the Snow Bunting which was found there by Bleddyn Thomas yesterday. The White-fronted Goose stiill present.

Merlin at Llanilar

 A f/imm Merlin flew down the Ystwyth Valley just to the east of Llanilar this afternoon. Pick of the rest was a Stock Dove.

Llanrhystud and New Quay

 Still lots of thrushes at llanrhystud this morning with 26 Song Thrushes, 39 Blackbirds, 11 Redwings at the lime kilns as well as 9 Siskin, 3 Blackcaps, a Merlin and 3 Goldcrests. At New Quay head there was decent Chaffinch passage with 383 south in around an hour, as well as two Bramblings. In the fields above Lewis Terrace there was a Ring Ouzel, 30 Blackbirds, 16 Mistle Thrushes, 25 Redwing and 12 Song Thrushes.

Curlew wintering survey in west Wales

Supported by the ECHOES Operation (https://echoesproj.eu/) of the EU’s Ireland Wales programme, the first group (of hopefully many) wintering curlew on the Dyfi  Estuary have now been fitted with British Trust for Ornithology rings and individual recognisable engraved colour-rings as part of a new research investigation. The project, lead by Aberystwyth University, will study curlew winter distribution and vulnerability to climate change in west Wales. This is a plea to bird watchers, and especially those interested in shore birds, to carefully record the colour and position of any colour-rings (including whenever possible the two-digit code on the larger colour-ring) on curlew spotted in inter-tidal areas of estuaries, salt marsh and adjacent farmland along the coast, and to report them to midwales.ringing@btinternet.com. Repeated sightings of these individually marked birds are vital to help us to appreciate how site faithful curlew are throughout the winter, and to identify where the birds most frequently forage, roost, rest etc. This will help to identify critical coastal habitats that support this species of significant conservation concern. 

Colour-marked curlew©Tony Cross

 

YNYSLAS

This afternoon near the tern posts was a flock of 860 Golden Plovers. A few are in the digi-scoped shot. On the estuary: 3 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 57 Pintail and 520 Wigeon and a Peregrine on the mud flats.

MEDITERRANEAN GULLS and WHOOPER SWANS

Not content with the 2 Cattle Egrets Chris viewed a huge flock of gulls at Llangwyryfon and found at least 110 Med.Gulls, a remarkable inland total. He will return tomorrow as he felt that many more were actually there. He then went to Bont-goch and at Pencefn saw 11 adult Whooper Swans.

THE CAPEL BANGOR CATTLE EGRETS

Chris goes down there later on and sees 2 Cattle Egrets!!! Outrageous.

Llanrhystud this morning

 Highlights at Llanrhystud this morning were the imm Russian Whitefront, 10 pale-bellied Brents going south, 2 imm Merlins, one of which nailed a goldfinch, and a Wheatear.

 Arfon Williams

THE CAPEL BANGOR CATTLE EGRET

It was visible this morning, two fields away from the narrow, twisty lane leading from the Llanbadarn Indust. Estate

Just about managed a digi-scoped shot. Further up the valley on Cwm Rheidol res, there were 5 Teal and 34 Mallard.

Lapland Buntings at Ynyslas

 I saw 2 Lapland buntings  yesterday evening at Ynyslas, along with a wheatear.

Lapland Bunting

Wheatear

 Andrew Chambers

The Wheatear looks like a Greenland bird to me.

CATTLE EGRET

Saw a Great White Egret yesterday flying along the River Rheidol and amazingly saw a Cattle Egret today, it was in fields along the river for about one hour, sometimes with the cows, about 1 mile west of Capel Bangor SN635 805. Jeff Thornton

Llyn Fanod

The Long-tailed Duck was still present this afternoon, along with two male Goosanders.  Also around were 10 Lapwings and a flock of about 40 Fieldfares.

Chris Bird

Glossy Ibis at Ynyslas

 Peter Wright, a visiting birder, reports a Glossy Ibis at Ynyslas at around 1:00 pm today.  The bird flew into the Dyfi estuary and continued across to the Leri, where it was last seen in the vicinity of the boatyard.

Surprise Swift

 I was very surprised to see a swift overhead just now; over the ridge east of Penrhiwnewydd

Jerry Moore

Yellow-browed Warbler

 Yellow-browed warbler calling below RSPB Ynys-hir visitor centre first thing this morning. It called three times before going quiet, unfortunately it was not seen

Dave Anning

Richard's Pipit on Consti

I've just had a text from Mark Carter saying he's just had a Richard's Pipit on Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth.  The bird then flew off to the NE with Meadow Pipits. 

Mark has sent me the above photo of the Richards Pipit from this morning.

Castell Bach and New Quay

 At Castell Bach (20^th) there was a bold chiffchaff bothering a couple of stonechat. Back at New Quay headland there were a group of a dozen or more mistle thrushes with a few redwing in tow and also a single snipe. At the house a female sparrowhawk took a wren.

Viv Evans 

Llanrhystud - Llansantffraed

 A very strong SE wind – birds hunkered down where they could find shelter

The juv White-fronted Goose still on the flooded field but had gone by the time I returned around 11.15. 

A Chiffchaff, a Wheatear and a Water Pipit were the interesting passerines. Fewer Blackbirds (c25) than previously seen - in the hedges and on the freshly seeded field, plus two Song Thrushes. The only finches were Goldfinches (30), zero Chaffinches. 150 Starlings.

 

300 Med Gulls, 150 Black-headed Gulls, A Greater and a Lesser Black-backed and perhaps 30 Herring Gulls.

 

18 Curlew, one Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Turnstone, 18 Oystercatchers, 3 Snipe, 430 Golden Plover, 1 Cormorant.

Ian Harrison

Glandyfi high tide etc

 Sightings included 5 great white egrets, 2 green sandpipers, 6 goosander and  3 red kites. Wader numbers low with only  22 dunlin, 1 redshank and 3 curlew. 2 little grebes 2 pintail and 3 wigeon. 

A male brambling on the feeder at home mid-day, and  pair of dippers back on the river.

Chiffchaff at Cors Caron

 I had a chiffchaff on the boardwalk at Cors Caron on Sunday 18th which seemed late. Also a willow tit with a small tit flock.

A female kestrel near Ffair Rhos on my drive to work this morning (Tue) and 3 crossbill at Nant yr Arian

André Marsh 

Llyn Fanod and Llyn Eiddwen

The Long-tailed Duck was still on Llyn Fanod yeaterday and two Kestrels were nearby.  On Llyn Eiddwen were four redhead and one male Goosander and later, towards dusk, 91 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew inn to roost, with more still approaching as it got dark.

Chris Bird

HAWFINCH

This morning Basil and Rhiannan walked along the path from Spencers Sheds at Tanybwlch and just before the chapel at Rhydyfelin noticed good numbers of finches and Redwings on the path-side bushes and a Hawfinch.

Cors Caron

 At a sunny Cors Caron yesterday afternoon not a lot of birds but a mixed flock of c50 Fieldfare and Redwings flew through, 3 Reed Bunting on the bog itself.  And non birdwise, enough sun for 2 Black Darters and a lifer for me, my first Adder

Martin Perry

Borth Bay and Ynys-hir

Joined forces with Paul Bennett this morning.  Scans from the brickhouse and Borth revealed fewer birds today, though Razorbills still present in large numbers and two Great Crested Grebes had joined at least 12 Red-throated Divers.

Ynys-hir next; my first visit since mid -March.   A minimum of four Great White Egrets, one of which was on the Ceredigion side of the river.  Also from the elevated viewpoint behind Marian Mawr; a Cetti's Warbler (heard by Paul), Kestrel, Shoveler pair, 12 Dunlin and three Green Sandpipers.

A short visit to  the Cletwr produced around 15 Redwings and a couple of Fieldfares.

A walk with Mrs M at Llanrhystud

An enjoyable morning birding and the more sociable half of our partnership even produced chocolate cake from her handbag as we strolled along. As a rule I would never indulge in such frivolous luxuries of course when out birding on my own, preferring a solitary, ascetic approach to the hobby. But very yummy. We called in at Denmark Farm for 5 minutes, where there was a late, or perhaps early Blackcap, in the car park. European White-fronted Goose was still present at Llanrhystud as well as a Little Stint, 400 Golden Plovers, 26 Turnstones, Peregrine, 3 Med Gulls, a White Wagtail and 2 Shags.

New Quay Head

 Another two Great White Egrets heading north passed New Quay Head this morning.  Also 1200 Chaffinches, 3 Bramblings, 24 Siskins, 75 Mipits & 11 Grey Wags heading north over the Head between 8am and 10am.

 Arfon Williams

Llyn Fanod

John Woodruff reports that both the Long-tailed Duck and Goldeneye were present 1pm

White-fronted Goose

 Paul Bennett has just rung me to say the White-fronted Goose was still present at Llanrhystud at 3;15 this afternoon.

Borth - Ynyslas

High tide and a calm sea at the brickhouse enabled good views of at least 650 Razorbills (250 on the sea and ca 400 flying past close inshore.  Not a single Guillemot among them, though there may have been some among the many more distant auks.  Further out were about 650 Gannets, and as Dave says below, many of them were young birds.

Another look at the sea from near the golf clubhouse revealed more Razorbills, probably around 150, and more Gannets were heading north towards the large rafts off Ynyslas.

Two Choughs flew north over the Dyfi estuary. 

Ynyslas

 Another seabird spectacular offshore at Ynyslas this morning. Nothing about that hasn't been reported from earlier in the week. Phenomenal numbers of auks and young gannets. There was a wheatear resting on the North Point strandline and rather oddly a female pintail dabbling about on a small pool in the fields by the boatyard with a few mallard

Dave Thomas 

Pics from Llanrhystud

White-fronted Goose

Great Egrets

I arrived at Llanrhystud beach carpark around half an hour before dawn this morning and counted 45 Redwing, 13 Blackbird, 10 Song Thrush and 2 Fieldfare calls. 

Llanrhystud

,Juv European white-fronted goose on he Llanrhystud flood this morning.  Other highlights were 1 or 2 merlins and 2 great white egrets heading north (probably different to Andy James’ 5).  Obvious signs of migration with about 100 thrushes (blackbirds & song thrushes) at the lime kilns and approx. 200 chaffinches (+ 1 brambling) .

Arfon Williams

Fieldfare, Aberaeron

 A single Fieldfare in Aberaeron this morning, Friday 16. Normally they come down in very cold weather conditions at inland and higher elevations so a pleasant surprise.

Ian Harrison

Seabird spectacular

First stop this morning was Borth lifeboat from where I could see enormous numbers of gulls towards Ynyslas.  I decided to start at the estuary where the highlight was six Pink-footed Geese which flew into the Dyfi mouth before turning north over Aberdyfi.

At the brickhouse birds were streaming past, almost all northwards.  Thousands of gulls, mostly Black-headed and Herring with some Common. Great Black-backs and a few Lessers.  Also huge numbers of auks; I counted 1600 passing in 15 minutes, plus hundreds on the sea.  

The large feeding rafts of gulls began to attract Gannets; up to ca 150 at the peak, but more unexpected was a single Manx Shearwater.  Eight Wigeon were on the sea off Borth with 15 Red-throated Divers between there and the brickhouse.

.   

Aberaeron egrets

Five white egrets seen heading north off Aberaeron around 10.00 this morning.  Sadly I didn't have my bins to get any more detail.

Andy James 

Long-tailed Duck update

 . I was one of the visitors from Shrewsbury and just as we were driving off we had one last look and managed to see it out in open, although quite distant! So as of about 5.30pm yesterday evening it was still there

Will Bevan

New Quay Bay

 At sea yesterday (15^th) . A single dark goose passed southwards. It had a distinctive white ‘stern’ that stood out in the low sun. It was about a mile west of Black Rock. I think it was probably a Brent

Viv Evans

Llyn Fanod p.m.

Chris had two Fieldfares near his home today before going to Llyn Fanod where he found another 40 or so, plus eight Lapwings.

The Long-tailed Duck (and other wildfowl) had disappeared since Ian's successful visit, unfortunately for two visitors from Shrewsbury  who had been hoping to see it.  

Red-legged Partridges

I saw three Red-legged Partridges in a field near Cnwch Coch this morning.

Llanrhystud and Llansantffraed

 There were two Lapwings on the flooded field at Llanrhystud this morning and 12 Ringed Plovers on the beach.  Just a Red-throated Diver and two Common Scoter offshore. 

At Llansantffraed, a selection of the commoner waders, i.e. 13 Curlews, 20 Turnstones, three Ringed Plovers, three Redshank, a Dunlin, a Bar-tailed Godwit  and finally, a flock of ca 160 Golden Plover.         16 Wigeon on the sea in the bay and a Teal flew north. The white Oystercatcher was with around 35 normal ones.

I revisited Llanrhystud on the way home and a flock of 21 Lapwings rounded the point at Llansantffraed then flew inland.

Llyn Fanod

 The female Long-tailed Duck still present this morning, along with Goldeneye and two Goosanders. With bright  sun behind me and still waters, hard to imagine a better view. 100 plus Redwings at Trefenter with a handful of Fieldfares.

Aberaeron

 A stunning autumn walk along Aberaeron north beach this morning. 31 bird species recorded. The highlights were 40 Mediterranean Gulls, 37 Curlew, 53 Golden Plover and a Female Merlin that flew past me and landed on a log on the stone ridge. 

Andy James

New Quay area

 I did an inland circuit yesterday (13^th). On leaving the house a female sparrowhawk passed half heartedly chasing some linnets. At Banc y Penrhyn near lower Maenygroes a female merlin appeared chased by a couple of corvids. There was another sparrowhawk on Panteg lane near the upper part of Maenygroes. Returning home a single snipe rose ahead of me on Banc y Penrhy

Viv Evans  

 

Winter thrushes

A large extended flock of winter thrushes (hundreds) this morning between Penrhyncoch and Salem; mostly redwings but a few fieldfares. Also included a few blackbirds and a mistle thrush but they could have been locals. All feeding on copious hawthorn berries.

Jerry Moore

Llyn Fanod, etc.

Chris was driving back from Llyn Fanod this afternoon after finding the Long-tailed Duck and Goldeneye still present and about half a mile away came across a fine male Hen Harrier.  14 Goosanders now on Llyn Eiddwen. 

Aberystwyth seawatch

 During a 30 minute seawatch this morning, 196 Gannets, ca420 auks, an Arctic Skua and a skua sp went north off Aberystwyth, and four Common Scoter flew south.

Redwing at Llanrhystud

 My first redwing – a single bird on the north side of the village this morning

John Woodruff

 

Llyn Eiddwen

 On his way back from Llyn Fanod yesterday Chris called in at Llyn Eiddwen and found a large roost of 127 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  Goosanders now down to eight.  

Chris also heard Redwings flying south at midnight on Sunday and found one in Llangwyryfon yesterday.

Long-tailed Duck update

 Chris tells me the Long-tailed Duck is still present on Llyn Fanod,  along with a juv/1w Goldeneye and four Goosanders, including a male.

Long-tailed Duck on Llyn Fanod

 Chris Bird has just rung me to say he has found a Long-tailed Duck on Llyn Fanod.  The bird, a female in winter plumage, is only the third inland record of this very scarce visitor to Ceredigion.

Glandyfi to Cwm Rheidol

A quick look at Glandyfi this morning - 2 green sands, 1 great white egret on the Meirionnydd saltings.

Cwm Rheidol this afternoon - 3 house martins and a goshawk.

changing seasons

 Summer yesterday in Henllan (Swallows) but winter today in Brynhoffnant (100 Golden Plovers near the school).

G Plov.

Am trying to help. 

Request

 Phoyograph of Golden Plover wanted.

One of the tasks that the Trustees are working on at the moment is creating a new condensed document/flyer that will go out to various parties (outdoor mags, newspapers, politicians etc) putting the case for AONB (or NP designation). We would like to include a few (small) photos one of which we were thinking of is of a Golden Plover(s). We have asked around some of the likely members who might have such a (close up) photo but so far with no luck. If you have such a photo (preferably taken in the Cambrian Mountains) and would not mind it being used on the flyer please could you get back to me at: peter.foulkes249@btinternet.com

The above request is from the Cambrian Mountains Society.

Swallows

 Still half a dozen Swallows lingering around a farm near Henllan. More than 50 were still present last week hanging around on the wires. This particular site always has very late birds. I wonder if they pass that inclination to stay late on to their offspring?

Llanrhystud this evening

A female Merlin chasing Skylarks was the highlight of a quick visit to Llanrhystud this evening. In the lime kilns was a Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 15+ Robins, 5 Song Thrushes, 8 Blackbirds and a Redwing. 

Glandyfi

 A quick stop this morning. Sightings included 4 green sandpipers below Domen las, a kingfisher at the mouth of the Einion,  red kite, raven  and buzzard on a sheep carcase. 18 mistle thrushes on the yews in the castle grounds.

Comings and goings

My first four Redwings of the autumn at Cors Caron this morning and three Swallows went south.  A couple of Great Black-backed Gulls went over.

Later at Llanilar, another Redwing then a party of ca25 House Martins flew up the valley 

Llanrhystud

 Nothing on the flooded field this evening but around 200 golden plover flying around over the rocky headland past the lime kilns and then a single bar tailed godwit landed in the sheep field on the north side of the line kilns. 

John Woodruff 

Grey Phalarope

The Grey Phalarope was still there at 4.30pm. I first saw it close to the shore from the wooden jetty. It then flew over to the harbour mouth where it remained for a few minutes but was very flighty. It then flew over the start of the stone jetty and headed up the river.

GREY PHALAROPE

From around mid-morning until early afternoon there was a juv. Grey Phalarope in the harbour at Aberystwyth.(A great tick from the flat.) When Chris, John (G), Basil and Rhiannon joined us the Otter showed briefly, moving out from nearby rocks, trotted down to the water and swam off but not quite close enough to the Phalarope for me to photograph both together. I have included two photos of the Otter taken from the balcony yesterday.

sterday

Sightings from Chris Bird

 Yesterday on his way home from Llanrhystud Chris came across a group of Swallows in Cwm Mabws,  feeding low under the  trees..  21 Goosanders still present on his Sunday afternoon visit to Llyn Eiddwen, along ith the Great Crested Grebe. He later found a Willow Warbler near his workshop.

Also from Chris; a report from John Gorman of a Bonxie 15 miles off Aberystwyth last Thursday.  Makes you wonder what else is out there.

MEDITERRANEAN GULLS (2)

30 were in Aberystwyth harbour this afternoon.

Mediterranean Gulls

Not surprisingly there was a good deal of standing water on Blaendolau Fields this morning which had attracted 24 Med Gulls and three Mallards among good numbers of Black-headed and Herring Gulls.

Greenshank at Llanrhystud

There was a Greenshank at the south end of the very flooded field at Llanrhystud this afternoon.

Bar-tailed Godwit

 There was a Bar-tailed Godwit on Borth beach on 26th Sept.

Andrew Chambers

Aberystwyth

A Peregrine flew low over the pier as I arrived on the prom this morning.  Offshore it was too dark to see anything small but a northward passage of Gannets totalled 115 in 90 min.  38 Common Scoter also passed by (36N, 2S) and a single Red-throated Diver.  Very few gulls except for the odd Kittiwake. 

Glandyfi

 Had a quick look at the high tide (not very high due to the strong offshore wind). Highlights were 4 great white egrets and 4 little egrets, all  on the north side of the river.

Ynyslas

 The high tide roost at Ynyslas Point this morning contained 190 Dunlin, 12 Sanderling and three Grey Plovers. I could only find about 10 Ringed Plovers, but they were hunkered down among the rocks.

At the brickhouse, ca80 Common Scoter, 13 Red-throated Divers and four Sandwich Terns.  Very few auks around; the ones within range were Guillemots.  

Grey Plover at Tanybwlch

 Just saw the Grey plover on, 29th of September, 6pm on Tan y Bwlch beach, at the south end near Allt Wen.

Andy Jones

Ynys-hir

 First trip to the reserve sine the spring. Highlights included 2 goshawks over Covert coch, 300 teal on Breakwater fields. 2 grey plovers amongst 160+ curlew on the estuary. 9 stonechats,  a wheatear, and 20+ linnets on the lowland grassland.